30. Juli 2018: EKD Ratsvorsitzender zu Gast in Dublin

EKD Ratsvorsitzender Bischof Heinrich Bedford-Strohm zu Besuch in der Lutherischen Kirche in Irland: Als besonderen Gast hatten wir den katholischen Erzbischof von Dublin, Diarmuid Martin (links im Bild) eingeladen.

Mut machende Begegnung! Die Christenheit lebt nicht von großen Zahlen, sondern von Vertrauen in Gottes versöhnende Kraft. Das schließt die Bereitschaft, eigene Fehler zu erkennen, mit ein. Reger Gedankenaustausch zwischen den beiden Bischöfen, aber auch mit der EKD – Delegation und vor allem mit Mitgliedern unserer Kirche.

In der Abendandacht hat Bischof Bedford-Strohm das Gleichnis von der selbstwachsenden Saat für uns ausgelegt (Markus 4,26-29). Ja, uns geht es oft wie dem Sämann: So viel an guten Worten und Taten, aber tragen sie auch Frucht? Der Sämann geht gelassen schlafen, die Saat wächst von selbst. Der Sämann kann gelassen sein, denn er hat das Seine so gut er konnte, getan. So können wir als Kirche, als Christen leben: Das tun, was wir können, und unsere Stimme im Namen Jesu erheben, wo es notwendig ist. Und dann vertrauen wir Gott, dass er aus unserem Tun und Reden gute Früchte reifen lässt. Vertrauen auf Gott bedeutet, Gelassenheit zu finden.

 

Advertisements

Abortion in Ireland: End of the 8th Amendment of the constitution

25th May 2018: More than 66% voted to repeal the 8th Amendment: The strict NO to abortion in Ireland comes to its end. A historic decision was made!

Discussing abortion is not only about politics, it’s about faith as well.

What would Jesus say? The four Gospels tell us that Jesus didn’t work on law. He wasn’t a politician. Instead of that there are many stories where he met people face-to-face, asking them about their need, and healing them in body, mind and spirit. Looking at Jesus  I’m pretty sure he would have looked at each woman in difficult pregnancy situation, asking what is the best for her and the unborn child, without blaming those women who are not able to end pregnancy, even with medical or social indication.

Hopefully Ireland gets a new, wise law which a good sense for leaving women not alone in this difficult situation, but protecting unborn life as well, as the Irish law protects children with great sense.

A German Version of my thoughts, published by Domradio Köln: https://www.domradio.de/node/280447

 

10th April 1998 – 10th April 2018

20th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement which marked the end of the “Troubles” in Northern Ireland: A silent anniversary. No big party. Many fears that Brexit might damage the peace. We are called to be ambassadors for reconciliation! If you like, take the Reading and the Prayer for your personal reflection.

Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

¹⁷ So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. ²⁰ So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Prayer from the Iona Community: 

Creator of this world and all its people,
we are glad that all things are held in your hands. You have not left us alone. And we celebrate the work of your Spirit encouraging people the world over
to work for justice and peace,
to speak for the voiceless and always to anticipate that the best is yet to come. Blessed be your name.

If, however,
we have driven a wedge between piety and peacemaking, 
erected a wall between prayer and politics, associated the purposes of heaven
 with only the gentler things of earth – God of justice, 
show yourself.

If we have offered to false gods the devotion you alone deserve; if we have dismissed the Gospel as irrelevant to the world – God of justice, show yourself.

If we have dumbed down your Word and domesticated your Spirit because we wanted an easier faith and a tamer dove – God of justice, show yourself.

Wherever in our nations
the poor are endangered,
 the sick are neglected,
 prisoners are refused redemption,
 and strangers among us are suspected – God of justice, show yourself.

Wherever in our world,
the lust for profit
 undermines the longing for peace; or the greed for power 
overrides the need for fairness – God of justice,
 show yourself.

In the prison visitor 
and the mediator, 
in vigils for peace
 and protests to protect the earth;
 to all who fear for the future of children, to those who long for a different day – God of justice, show yourself.

We pray in Jesus’ name
 and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen

EASTER | OSTERN

Christ is risen – he is risen indeed!

The Easter Candle in St. Finian’s. Light for a world full of darkness.

Youth Week

During Holy Week we had a fabulous youth week in the Lutherhaus: 12 young people lived in the Lutherhaus. The main theme was “Hospitality” and led into the Holy Thursday Service. Every day was finished with a service in the church. We had self-created Bible Videos, games, free time in the City, a trip to Howth on the footsteps of Grace O’Malley with a lovely time at the hidden beach where her pirates entered the peninsula, shared our meals, had a video night and a creative night with concrete art – and much more. Mariesophie, Franziska and Larissa built the team with me – thank you very much!

Water shortage in Dublin (!)

After ice and snow and storm there is a new challenge: A water shortage in Dublin! The fact is: The pipes are in such a bad condition and leaking everywhere, that the authorities have to shut down the water supply during night to save water. Difficult, if you would like to have a shower in the evening or morning!

This is a passage from Irish Time:

Restrictions on water supply will be put in place across the Dublin region and neighbouring counties from 7pm on Monday night until 7am on Tuesday, in order to reduce pressure on reservoirs.

Overnight restrictions on water will likely be in place for a number of weeks, Jerry Grant, managing director of Irish Water, has warned.

Speaking after the latest National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) meeting, Mr Grant said Irish Water would be reducing water pressure from evening time “for the foreseeable future” in Dublin.

The Beast from the East

Well, there is snow in Ireland, for three days or more. Snow combined with storm. Red weather alert which means: Airport closed, public transport closed, schools closed and Lidl sold out and closed… “The Beast from the East” is a special weather phenomenon with cold wind coming from the polar zone. The last time Ireland hat so much snow was in 1982.

Please have a look at the calendar on our webpage and follow our mails and facebook to learn about postponed services and events.

Stay safe and warm and enjoy the beauty of nature, of God’s creation!

St. Finian’s and the snow. Our island in the City.